When multiple sclerosis (MS) makes getting around difficult, using a cane can help keep you mobile. Professional guidance from either a physical or occupational therapist is important when picking a cane, because choosing the wrong one — or using it incorrectly — can make matters worse.

“It may be time to investigate using a cane when walking becomes unsteady due to problems with balance, coordination, spasticity, or weakness,” says Debra Frankel, MS, an occupational therapist and vice president of programs, services, and clinical care at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).

If you’ve fallen or hesitate to do activities because you’re worried about your walking, Frankel suggests seeing a physical therapist for a gait analysis and to decide which cane — or other mobility device — is best suited to your needs.

How to Pick the Right Cane

Single point cane. This is the most common type of cane and has just one point that hits the ground, Frankel says. It's an option if you need help with balance but minimal support. Look for a rubber or ice-grip tip for walking on slippery surfaces, she adds.

Quad cane. This cane comes with four points at the base, offering more support, says Susan Kushner, MS, PT, academic coordinator of clinical education at the Graduate School of Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Slippery Rock. However, to use it safely, all four points need to be in contact with the ground at all times. “If only two or three legs are touching, that can throw you off a bit,” she says. Quad canes need to be used very slowly and carefully, Kushner advises.

HurryCane. This cane, for which you may have seen advertisements on TV, has a flexible joint above a tripod base. The HurryCane's three-point base stays in contact with the ground while the cane moves and, Kushner says, offers a little more stability. However, she adds, “A lot of people like them, but they're not for everybody. One patient told me it throws her off too much.”

Another consideration is the material a cane is made of, since it determines the weight and portability of the cane.

Wooden canes. These look attractive, and many people prefer them, but they're not adjustable and can be heavy, as well, Frankel says.

Metal canes. Often made of aluminum, metal canes are generally adjustable. Some models easily fold up and fit in a tote bag or briefcase.

Canes come with different handgrip options, too. “A larger, foam-covered, offset grip may be easier to grasp," Frankel says. "An ergonomically designed grip can reduce pain in the hand and wrist.”

Making Sure the Cane Fits You

Using a hand-me-down cane from grandma isn’t a good idea if it is too short or too tall for you, Kushner says. An ill-fitting cane can cause back, shoulder, elbow, or wrist pain.

When you are standing up straight with your arms at your sides, the top of your cane should reach the crease of your wrist.

When you hold your cane by the handgrip, your elbow should be slightly bent.

Using the cane correctly is important, too. “People think you use it on your weaker side, but that’s not correct,” Kushner says. If your left leg is weak, for example, you use it on your right side to provide added support.

Getting Over Psychological Roadblocks

Lisa Cohen, 46, a New York City-based life coach for women with MS and author of the book Overcome the BS of MS, was diagnosed with MS in 2001. A bad exacerbation in 2009 caused left-sided weakness and spasticity, and Cohen started having trouble walking. She began using a single point cane occasionally, but after about a year had to use it all the time.

“Having to accept that I did need to use the cane was difficult for me,” Cohen says. “I really couldn’t put one foot in front of the other because I wasn’t stable — and that was hard to accept.”

That’s not an uncommon reaction, Frankel says. People sometimes see using a cane as a reminder of limitations imposed by MS, but she adds that "if you can overcome any resistance, you will find using a cane improves the quality of your life.”

Cohen couldn’t agree more: “The truth of the matter is I couldn’t walk down the street without it. I am very aware of that. The cane enables me to get out — period — and without the fear of falling and getting hurt.”